Foreign Worker Medical Insurance vs WIC Insurance

Updated 16 October 2026 · Written by Assureme Pte. Ltd., appointed agent of Liberty Insurance. General information, not advice.

Two policies, two purposes

If you employ foreign workers in Singapore, MOM expects you to have two kinds of insurance in place. They do different jobs and one does not replace the other.

• Work injury compensation (WIC) insurance responds to work-related injury and disease under WICA. It is required for manual workers and non-manual employees earning $2,600 or less a month, local and foreign.
• Medical insurance (MI) for work permit holders covers inpatient care and day surgery, including hospital bills for conditions that may not be work-related.

What MOM requires for medical insurance

According to MOM, you must buy and maintain medical insurance for each migrant worker you employ, and the cost cannot be passed on to your workers. Coverage must include inpatient care and day surgery and be at least $60,000 per year for each work permit holder. If the plan has sub-limits, each one must meet that minimum. You submit the insurance details online before the work permit is issued or renewed, and update them when they change.

MOM’s enhanced requirements apply to policies, renewals or extensions starting from 1 July 2023, including a co-payment of 75% by insurers and 25% by employers for claim amounts above $15,000. Further changes took effect for policies starting from 1 July 2025, such as standardised exclusion clauses and direct payment by insurers to hospitals. Check MOM’s page for the current details, because requirements can change.

What WIC insurance does that medical insurance does not

WIC insurance is tied to work injuries and also pays medical leave wages and lump sum compensation for permanent incapacity or death, as set under WICA. Medical insurance for work permit holders is hospital cover. Learn more on our WIC insurance page and in our guide on who needs WICA insurance.

Common questions from employers

Employers often ask whether one policy can serve both purposes. MOM treats them as separate requirements, with different rules on who is covered and what is paid. Another common question is who pays: MOM says the cost of medical insurance cannot be passed on to workers. If you are unsure whether your current policies meet MOM’s rules, send us the policy schedules and we will point out what to confirm with the insurer or MOM.

Making sure both are in place

1. List each foreign worker, their pass type and role.
2. Check the work injury compensation cover meets MOM’s rules and starts before they begin work.
3. Check that the medical insurance meets MOM’s minimum and runs for the full work permit validity.
4. Diarise both renewal dates.

Assureme can arrange work injury compensation cover through Liberty Insurance. For foreign worker medical insurance and other requirements, WhatsApp us with your worker details and what MOM or your agent has asked you to provide, and we will tell you what we can arrange.

Quotes are indicative and subject to Liberty Insurance’s terms, excess and exclusions. Cover starts only when Liberty issues the policy after a signed proposal and payment.